Question : “Democracy within bureaucracy is likely to reduce its effectiveness.” Do you agree with this view? Argue your case.
(2015)
Answer : Democracy believes in public sovereignity but bureaucracy is based on selection and is not based on people’s sovereignity. Thus they do not share same ethos but they are complementary.
George Ganthad said that bureaucracy can be successful, if there is:
If there is democracy within bureaucracy then it check and keeps control on bureaucracy and prevents it from making overdeveloped. It controls bureaucracy from becoming autocratic.
Question : To what extent has political culture influenced the administrative culture of India? Explain.
(2015)
Answer : Administration is a result of ecological impact. An important attribute of it being polity. Hence, political culture has significant influence on administration. In fact, Ferrel Heady’s concentric circles places administration at the centre and politics to have greatest impact.
Influence of political culture:
1.“When happiness lies in the subjects” and ‘‘divinity to king is attached”: We find compassionate admin. Benevolence , emphasis is more on developmental works than law and order.
2.“When king is supreme” and ‘‘rule is ....
Question : As Dr. B. R. Ambedkar observed, “the text of the Constitution can provide the organs of the State, but the final outcome of the governance process depends on how it has operationalized by the political parties and people”. Elucidate the statement.
(2015)
Answer : “It is more difficult to run a constitution than to frame one” - Woodrow Wilson“Constitution merely create rules and organizational structure but the real implementation and governance process is the key for outcomes.
Constitution of a land reflects the inherent values and provides directions for journey ahead. Indian constitution is an indicative document, it is flexible, has scope for interpretation and relies on the conduct of actual practitioners. The success of constitution and its makers will ....
Question : Do you agree that there has been a serious governance-deficit in development administration in India? Give reasons for your answer and add your suggestions.
(2015)
Answer : Development Administration (DA), which begen in India after Independence was aimed at uplifting socio-economic life standards of people.
According to George Grant, DA needs officials/ administration with loyalty, towards people, purpose for uplifting their life and attitude of citizen-centricness.
Governance-deficit in DA in India might be present because—
Question : Discuss the value premises of Constitutionalism in India which the bureaucracy cannot violate.
(2014)
Answer : Constitutionalism is the arrangement by which arbitrary power of the state is constrained. According to A G Andrews this can be done in two ways:
Constitutionalism implies a division of power, acceptance of plurality of interest in society, minimum constrains on individual rights etc. Bureaucracy is an instrument for exercising this power. But chances of institutionalisation of bureaucracy are large.
So to control arbitrary power of bureaucracy, we have:
Question : “Indian administration is said to be characterised by its three features viz. Weberian structures, Kautilyan practice and Gandhian rhetoric.” Examine the statement.
(2014)
Answer : The first empire in India was Mauryan Empire which decided the Indian style of administration. The biggest influence from any foreign empire was that of British empire which was run on the principles of Weberian bureaucracy. And if any personality has most affected the style of administration then without doubt he is Gandhi.
Indian administration is highly influenced by these three:
a. Weberian structure:
Question : “Beneath the soft outer shell of democratic administrative framework lies unscathed the steel frame of Indian administration which has survived through the ages.” In the light of this statement, examine the relationship between-bureaucracy and development in the last one decade.
(2014)
Answer : Bureaucracy is the bedrock of governmental administration. It is that steel structure that provides shape and strength to any outer shell, whether it is autocracy or democracy. After independence bureaucracy has played a major role in providing administrative stability to nation. In last one decade also it has played a major role in development of India.
Bureaucracy plays twin roles of regulation and development in a developing country like India. The regulatory work cannot be separated ....
Question : The liberal-democratic ideology of the West influenced in shaping of value premises of the Indian Constitution. Discuss.
(2013)
Answer : As far as the Liberal perspective is concerned, it is full of reflections on practices such as citizenship, family, property and rights usually within a broad overarching account of the State, its nature and purpose. The Liberal perspective of the State is based on the philosophy of Liberalism, which broadly represents freedom, modernity and progress. Emerging around the same period as that of the evolution of the modern States, it came to signify the attempt ....
Question : Explain with appropriate illustrations the interface between political culture and bureaucratic culture in contemporary India.
(2011)
Answer : Policies and administration are complimentary and supplementary to each other. If itaffects both in India, the relationship between administration and political leadership should be understood in this perspective. Their relation is defined by the position of minister in the cabinet as well as social political culture. As for eg. By the political environment are stable and healthy then the position of political minister is strengthened while if it is undergoing in crisis then it is ....
Question : “Over-dependence on bureaucracy for bringing about socio-economic development in India has proved to be dysfunctional.” Comment.
(2011)
Answer : It is generally agreed by all concerned that the new policies of economic reforms and liberalisation would still require massive presence of government in livelihood sectors, such as health, primary education, and poverty alleviation. Unfortunately little thought has been given to the capacity building of government functionaries with a view to improve their performance. Bureaucracy in India is considered to have the following characteristics:-
Question : Comment on the following statements:-
(i) “The more developed an administrative system became the greater the likelihood that it would have developmental effects.”
(ii) “The thrust of development administration failed to energise the Indian bureaucracy.”
(2010)
Answer : (i). In any developed administrative system there is a high degree of specialization. In Riggs terms this is a highly differentiated political systems. But very high level of specialization leads to occupational ego which is main disadvantage of this developed administrative system. Moreover there will not be any generalist bureaucrats and everybody will be specialists. There will not any chance of mobility or interoperability of experts as they are distinct in their specialized.
The public service ....
Question : “Values of Indian administration must be rooted in the preamble of the Indian Constitution.” Discuss.
(2009)
Answer : Preamble of Indian constitution is influenced by the U.S. Constitution. Although in various decision of Honourable Supreme Court of India it is not considered as part of Constitution. However, in Kesavanand Bharti v/s State of Kerala case (1973) it has been recognized as part of constitution. But, neither it nor any of its contents is legally enforceable. However, it serves as a guiding light for the constitution and judges interpret the constitution in its light.
The ....
Question : Describe the changing character and new orientations of Public Services in India since Independence.
(2008)
Answer : The bureaucracy in India is the product of two different sets of influence : British traditions of the past and the democratic welfare state of the present. The bureaucracy created by the British to maintain the imperialist traditions of a colonial government was a remarkable administrative legacy.
Public service is essential for the functioning of government. The public service has long been regarded as the ‘steel frame’ of administration in India right from colonial days. Thecivil ....
Question : “Not the Potomac, but the Thames, fertilizes the flow of Yamuna”. In the light of the statement, comment on the symbolic institution of the president of India.
(2006)
Answer : The statement points towards the Prime Ministerial or parliamentary form of government that India choose instead of the presidential form. In India President is although the executive head of the state and government but his institution is just symbolic.
Under Article 72 of constitution of India it is said that there will be a council of minister to aid and advice the president. This means that the president do not have any discretion and he will ....
Question : “The basic values of constitution of India enshrine social, political and economic philosophy symbolizing sovereignty of the people, rule of law and basic characteristics of a socialist, secular, democratic republic”. Comment.
(2006)
Answer : The preamble to Indian constitution declares India as sovereign socialist, secular, democratic, republic. These words show the basic values of constitution of India.
The word sovereign means that both externally and internally, India is a sovereign nation. Socialist means that the people will have equitable share on country’s resources there by securing economic rights for every one. The world ‘secular’ in the preamble implies that
the state would not support any religion out of public funds, ....
Question : “Though India emerged as a sovereign state Independence, the administrative system remained the same as was during the British period.” Comment.
(2003)
Answer : India remained under British domination and control for a very long time. During their period of supremacy the Britishers had their own administrative set-up. Of course several administrative changes have been introduced to suit new needs and requirements, altogether has not been wiped out.
There are many areas in which influence of British administrative system on Indian administrative system has been felt. These are: -
Question : “Indian federalism is described as federal in form but unitary in spirit”. Comment.
(2002)
Answer : Though the constitution describes India as a Union of States, it contains all the essential federal polity such as:
The unique feature of our constitution is that, though it has federal features but it is a federation with unitary bias, which is reflected by the following provision:
Question : “The value premises of our constitution in the era of global constitutionalism”. Comment.
(2002)
Answer : The constitution of a country in simple terms, can be said as a collection of the legal rules providing the framework for the government of the country. It reflects the dominant belief and interests or some compromise between conflicting belief and interests . Indian constitution is among the longest in the world.
Our constitution not contented with merely laying down the fundamental principles of governance, as the American constitution does, the authors of the Indian constitution ....
Question : “It is axiomatic that a country’s public administration system, including its bureaucracy, must fits into and respond to its overall political system.” In the light of this statement discuss the mutual relations between the Civil Servants and the ministers since Independence.
(2001)
Answer : India is a democracy with a Parliamentary system of Government. A public official in a Parliamentary democracy is accountable directly to the political executive and indirectly through him to Parliament and the people. The political minister formulates policy as well as broadly supervises its implementation; the civil servants advise in formulation of the policy and are also responsible for carrying it out.
Change in political executive with change in the fortunes of the political parties in ....
Question : “She need and significance of all India services has been well recognized in political as well as administrative circle.”
(2001)
Answer : Historically, the All India Services as the Secretary of States Services of the Victorian era. The oldest among them was the famous Indian Civil Services (ICS) which owes its origin to the Macaulay Report, 1854. Sardar Patel, the Home Minister in the Interim Government had mooted the proposal to create an all Indian Administrative Service. He valiantly steered it for acceptance through a conference of the provincial premiers in October, 1946 and insisted on its ....
Question : “The use of the word ‘Socialist’ in the Indian Constitution has become redundant in the context of the liberalization of economy”.
(2001)
Answer : In the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, it has been resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist Secular Democratic Republic. The fathers of the Indian Constitution wanted to bring about a socialistic transformation in India through democracy.
The word ‘Socialism’ comes to mean the following:
All these, except common ownership, continue to be valid in the present content. Socialism believes ....
Question : “The preamble to the Constitution is a key to open the mind of the makers”. Comment.
(1997)
Answer : Preamble implies a preliminary or introductory statement in speech or writing. The preamble of a statute, which generally follows the long title and precedes the purview, is a prefactory explanation or statement in general terms stating the reason or occasion for making the statute and the object or policy, which it is designed to achieve. The preamble like the long title is a part of statute and is an admissible aid to its construction.
To quote ....
Question : “The Directive Principles of State Policy are socialist in their direction and content”. Comment.
(1997)
Answer : Our constitution did not adhere to any particular ‘ism’ but sought to effect a compromise between Individualism and Socialism by eliminating the vices of unbridled private enterprise and interest by social control and welfare measures as far as possible.
This is why a ‘socialistic pattern of society’ not Socialism was declared to be the objective of our planning by Pandit Nehru.
A large no. of Directive Principles, however, aim at the establishment at a welfare state in ....
Question : “Examine the motives and intentions of the framers of the Indian Constitution as they opted for the system of parliamentary democracy in India.
(1997)
Answer : Colonial India ruled by Britisher’s and the experience gained under this regime played dominant role behind the adoption of parliamentary democracy for India. This raised hopes for a stable democratic polity in India. This was certainly the vision of the‘founding fathers’. Under the leadership of Nehru and others, that vision took shape in the form of new political institutions.
The new constitution laid the basis for a British style parliamentary democracy, arrangements were made to keep ....
Question : “The first Article of the Draft Constitution of India provided that India shall be a federation.” Comment.
(1996)
Answer : The first Article of the Draft Constitution of prepared by Sri. B.N. Rau, Constitutional Advisor to the Government of India, provided that ‘India shall be a federation.’ But subsequently the Drafting Committee provided that ‘India shall be a union of states’. This expression was taken from the preamble of the Canadian constitution 1867. Instead of “federation”, the word ‘union’ has been used in the constitution and one of the most controversial questions is the nature ....
Question : “The Indian Constitution is a bag of borrowed materials”.
(1995)
Answer : The constitution of India is a products of lengthy debates, deliberations and discussions.Nearly 75% of the constitution can be said to be a reproduction of the Government of India Act 1935 with suitable adaptations and modifications. Besides this indigenous source, the constituent assembly had before it several models of foreign constitutions.
After much needed debates and keeping in mind the Indian conditions many things were borrowed from foreign constitutions. The concept of Directive Principles of State ....
Question : “The purists have criticized the Indian Constitution as not confronting to the conception of a federation and as being unduly rigid.” Examine the statement.
(1995)
Answer : Indian Constitution is neither purely ‘federal’ nor purely ‘unitary’. The federal form clearly manifests in the constitutional distribution of powers between the union and the states not only in the legislative field but also in executive and administrative fields. In normal times, the constitutional scheme has to ensure autonomy of the states in regard to the spheres of activities earmarked for the states in the constitution. But sometimes it is felt that the sphere of ....
